Building construction



Slept. 16, 1952 B, HURD 2,610,709

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 26, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l V4 C32 v5 we 49.

A INVENTOR.

r/ubofas a. fla/RD.

Sept 16, 1952 T. B. HURD BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Filed Sept. 26, 1946 m. w m m THADDEUS 8. HURD.

Sept. 16, 1952 T. B. HURD 2,610,709

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 26, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INI/ENTORQ TMDDEUS B. HUPD.

7 7' ORNE X Patented Sept. 16, 1952 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Thaddeus B. Hu'rd,- Detroit, Mich., assigner to National Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application september 26, i946, serial No; 702,833

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to building construction and more particularly to building a new and improved building connector member for readily connecting togethery anumber of building elements;

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved building framing construction in' which load supporting, exterior wall beams are eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide building framing, themembers ofwhich readily t together and hold each other in place without need off additional fasteners.

Other objects'of the invention-will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsin which:' p f Figure l is a.fragmentaryisometric view of an exterior corner offfa building, embodying features ofv the present invention; l f

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, isometric view ofthe building framework; y

Figure 3 is anlisornetric viewe'rof va*building element oftheV framework;

Figure 4 is' a fragmentary:verticalsectional viewYV of the I building,- taken! along the line`v 4 4 of' Figure 11; e

Figure 5 isa; fragmentary, cross-sectional View of a corner of the buildinggtakerialong; the line 5--5 ofA Figure 1; f-

Figure 6 i`s a fragmentary, isometriofv-iewf' of y another building construction similar' to the i building constructionor Figure 1;-- y

FigureY is'afragmentary', isometricviewoffthe framework of the buildin'go'f'lil'gurelgf` y i i Figure 8r is alvertical crosslsectionalfvewfof the'v buildingstaken along the1linef`f8r-8 of Figure: 9 isv ahorizontalasectiona'l view iot. the building framework, taken ,along the :line 9^9 otFigure 8;' p ..1 f Y.

Figure 10 is an isometricyiewf,of-,abuilding element of` the buildings of Figure. 67,, similar to the K buildiriglelement?v of 3;@ and`v Figura 1l is ya fcr'oss' Referring to` the drawings" bycnraet'r'sf or' l semmai; 'dani View; f the building off' Fi'gurej, `,telkerralong. theplin'e reference and rst to the building construction of Figures l-to r5 inclusive, this building includes columns or studs I0, exterior wall beams or girders' II, joists I2, connectoror bracket members i3', jois't spacer members` I4 and1 outlooker members I5'.y The columns I0 extending upwardly from any suitable foundation (not shown)v support the girders II which extend between and connect or tie the upper ends of the columns iltogether around the walls of the building. The building includes similar' walls opposite tothe walls shown. Theioists I2, extending' between opposite side wall girders II are supportedv at their opposite ends by the brackets I3* which in turn seat directly on the supports or girders II in spaced relation therealong. yThese brackets n IB are located and held in relative spaced relation longitudinally of the girders II by'thespacer members I4 which extend between the brackets, longitudinally of and immediately above the girders I I. *'Thus,y the spacer members I4, through the brackets I3 maintain the joists I'2{ in' relative laterally spaced relation. Each-of the brackets,v I3 includes one yof the cutlooker membersy |52 which, extending outwardly from orY overhanging the walls of the building, constitutes supports-for eave structure. kThis overhang or lcave structure may be provided only at thezroof yof the"` building or, if desired, may be provided at eachA floor.

1 The' girders II-,used in the present construction' are preferably steel members ci unusual depth so that the supporting columns `IIl'tliere'- for 4can be widely spaced apartwithout danger ofthe girders sagging under thel load of the Vupper structure. 4These girders II may comprise vapmcleep` webv I6, a lower seating flange I1, an upper supporting flangel and end connector "flanges I9; Extending horizontally between the 'columns I0 in vertical coplanar relation therewith; the girders I'I may be secured at their end connector lflanges I9 to thesides of the columns by self#threading screws or by anyr other suitable means. YIn certain typesk of' small.buildingsfitl may' only be necessary to have columns at the cornersY thereof, whereas in largerl buildings one or more intermediate columns will be desirable. suitable type `ci? joist may be used in this building, thejoists I2' of thepresent construction 'being steel, nailable members, each including" a channel havingA aj web 20,"an upper iloor'ilange A2 Iv and a lower ceiling flange 22'." To the'baok off `tliefchannel*web Zll is weldedan upper angle member 2li/and a lower angle :member v2l formingfwith theichannel* memben a` compositest'ruc- `tural' member ofwgene'ral I-beamicrossisection.

The angle members 23, 24 are spaced from one side surface of the channel web providing nail receiving slots wherein the nails are clinched due to the sinuous form of the slots.

Each of the connector members or brackets I3 comprises a number of joined together retainer channels, namely a joist retainer channel or hanger 25 and spacer member retainer channels 28. The bracket I3 includes an outlooker I5 which is also a retainer channel. The joist retainer channel 25 comprises a lower horizontal seat portion 21 which is joined to an upper seating portion 29 by connecting portions or sides 30 of the joist retainer channel 25. The upper seating portion 2'9 is offset in stepped relation to the lower joist seat portion 2I to rest on the upper supporting flange I8 of the girders I I. This upper seating portion 29 of the bracket I3 joins with the channel outlooker I5 which aligns in end to end relation with the joist receiving channel 25. The channel outlooker I5 comprises a bottom web 29 and upstanding sides 32, the sides 32 joining or being integral respectively with the sides of the joist receiving channel 25. The spacer member retainers or channels 26 each comprises a seat or web 28 and upstanding retaining sides or flanges 3|. The spacer member retainers 26 are ,disposed on opposite sides of the bracket I3 adjacent the upper seating surface 29 thereof so as to immediately overlie the wall girders I I. These channel retainers 26 extend laterally from the bracket side flanges 30 to which ends of the channels may be butt welded, the seats 28, 29 and 23 being in the same horizontal plane. Further, the channel retainers 25, 26 and the channel outlooker I5 are relatively arranged so that the upper edges of their sides 30, 3l and 32 respectively, are in the same horizontal plane.

Received in each of the channel outlookers I5 is a nailable member 34 to which to secure the eave structure 35 which may be a continuation of the building ooring or roofing, as the case maybe. This nailable member 34 may be of the same general construction asvthe joists I2 with which they align, but need not be as deep. Thus, the bottom seat 2I of the joist retainer is disposed below the upper seating portion 29 of the bracket a distance substantially equal to the differential in the depths of the joist I2- and the nailable member 34, so that the upper surfaces of the ,joists and of the nailable members 34 will be in the same horizontal plane, which is preferably coincident with the upper edges of the retainer channels. Anextended portion or lip 3'I of the retainer seat 2`I is bent up against the inner surface of a downturned edge portion 38 of the upper girder ange (see Figure 4), restraininginward movement of the connector member or bracket I3. Adjacent the outer end of each of the channeloutlookers, the sides 32 thereof are bent in'- wardly, as at 40, the web 29 continuing beyond the bent-in side portions and having an upturned end portion. This forms a channel-like retainer or holder at the end of the outlooker for an eaves trough 42 which may be fitted tightly therein and held in place without need of additional securing means.

The bracket spacer members I4 are preferably of general channel form having a bottom seat or web 44 and upturned sides 45 providedl with inturned flange portions 46. As shown, the upper surfaces of the spacer member flange portions 46 are preferably coplanar or flush with the upper edges of the brackets I3. Opposite endportions of these spacer members I4 are preferably of re- 'duced size providing aY shoulder 41 aroundY the .in addition to spacing apart the brackets I3.

serve to close the opening between the upper surface of the girders and the overhang or eave. The walls of the building may be constructed of plywood panels 48 or other suitable means extending upwardly from the building foundation to the under sides of the spacer members I4 and of the spacer retainers 26. At the building corners, the panel joints each may be covered by an angle finishing strip 49.

In the erection of the building, assuming the columns IU and connecting girders II are in place, the connector members or brackets I3 may next be positioned on and spaced in approximate -relation along the girders II between columns with a bracket preferably located at each column.

Next, the spacer members I4 may be added tol the structure, positioning their opposite ends respectively in the bracket retainers 26 with the spacer stop shoulders 41 tight against the ends of the retainers. With the brackets I3 properly spaced apart by the spacer members I 4, the joists I2 may now be set in place with opposite end portions thereof respectively seating in opposite retainers 25 of the brackets I3. Next. the nailable members 34 may be set in place in the channel outlooker I5 and the flooring or roofing, as the case may be, applied and nailed in place to the joists I2 and to the eave nailable members 34. At the roof, the eave troughs or gutters 42 may be pressed down into the holders therefor carried by the outer ends of the outlooker I5.

From the above description, it will now be appreciated that I have provided a new and improved connector member for connecting together several structural members of a building. By reason of this connector member or bracket it will be seen that the joists, joist spacer members and the outlooker can be readily assembled by more or less merely setting them in their proper places, since they intert, relatively holding each rother lin place and to the girders without need of the usual fasteners or securing means.

Referring now to the building construction of Figures 5 to 1l inclusive, there is shown a building framework which, unlike the previously described building, omits load supporting wall beams or girders. Instead of wall beams or girders, the present building framework includes a plurality of laterally spaced bents, each comprising a pair of oppositely disposed supports or columns 50, a spanning joist 5I and a pair of connector members or brackets 52. -Only a portion of the bents is shown in the drawings. The bents are connected together in relatively laterally spaced relation by spacer members 53 which extend between adjacent bents inwardly of the columns 50, the spacer members 53 -being connected to the columns by the brackets 52. The brackets 52 are secured to the inner sides of the column and each of the brackets carries an outlooker member 54 extending outwardly in alignment with respective jolsts'.

The columns 50 each comprises a pair of channels 55 spaced apart in back-to-back relation and secured together by inner and outer plates 56 welded respectively to the inner-and outer :cheese flanges-- The 1ere 5| may be the Seme tainers in construction asxthe joistszZof thepreviously described. building and thereforeylike parts are designated by like numerals to avoid-.unnecessary repetitions description.

TheA connector membersor v1brackets 52 each 1 Vcomprisesa joist retainer member 58, spacer ymember retainers 59 anda retainer 60 for the outlooker member. 54. The brackets 52 may be "supportsvthe outlooker retainer- Bilwhich is of channel form having upstanding oppositely disposed restraining sides 65. A vertically extendpair of plate-members 66 seating at their lower edges on the lower horizontal plate portion 63con stitutes the restraining sides of the joist retainer member 58, the plate members 66 dividing the lower vhorizontal plate portion 63 into an intermediate seat 6T for the joistand opposite end seats 68 for the spacer members 53. yThe upper seating portion 62 of the bracket is vertically spaced from the lower joist seat portion'by the connecting 4portion 6'|,-a distance substantially equal to the ldifferential of the depths of the joist and outlocker member. The vertical plate members 66 may be Welded along their lower edges to the t lower horizontal plate portions 63` and along vertical edges to the vertical plate portion 6| intermediate the side edges thereof. Between the Aplate members 68, the vertical plate portion 6l oftlfeA brackets may be provided with'apertures 10 to receive bolts 1I forsecuring the brackets rto the inner faces of the columns 50. outwardly of the bracket plate members 66, the plate portion 6I is provided with apertures 12 to receive bolts 13 securing the spacer members 53 to the brackets. In the plate members or sides 86 of the joist retainer 58, apertures 15 may be provided to receive bolts 16 extending through the joist web to limit longitudinal movement of the joists 5I, lateral movement being limited by the restraining sides 66 ofthe retainer. Alsoalign ing apertures 'I1 may be provided in the upstanding restraining sides of the outlooker rey6l) to receive bolts 18 to connect the bracket and outlooker member together.

The spacer members 53 are of general channel Vf orrn having a web 80, a lower, seatingflange 8| and an upper supporting flange 82. Flooring or roong 83 and ceiling material 84 may be attached to the spacer members 53 by snap-in fasteners 85 adapted to frictionally engage in spring channels 86 formed in the top and bottom anges of the spacer members 53. As shown, the flooring or roofing 83, as the case may be, extends outwardly providing an overhang or eave 81 supported on the upper surfaces of the outlooker members 54. These outlooker members 54 are preferably of channel-form having a bottom seat or web 90 and upstanding restraining sides 9i. At its outer end, the outlooker web 90 extends beyond the sides 9| and is bent up, as at 92, providing a retainer for an eaves trough 93. Retained in the channel outlooker 54 is a nailable member 94. The roof or floor 83 is nailed to the joists 5I and the overhang or eave 81 is nailed to the nailable member 94 in the channel outlookers 54, the joist and the nailable member 94 presenting substantially flush upper bearing surfaces due to the vertical spacing of their bracket seats.

In erecting this building, the hents may; be aesembled hat on the ground and then be' raisedfand connected together by the spacer. members :53.

-'In assemblingv the bents, the connector'members .or brackets 52 are first bolted to the inner sides of a pair of thevcolumns 5.0 with the outlooker retainer 60 immediately above the.y upper ends: of the columns. IThe joist 5| may then be positioned with its opposite ends engaged respectively in Kthe pair of bracket retainers 58 and bey secured thereto by theboltsr16. AIn connecting the raised bents together, the spacer members. 53 are positioned with their opposite ends seatingon the seats.68 of adjacent bracketsto which .the spacer members may besecured by the. bolts 13. With the outlookers 54 secured to their respective brackets 52 in the retainer channels 60 by the` boltsxl,

the nailable members 94..may.be. set in the' outlookers and the eave troughs. setin the retainers at the outer ends of theoutlookers. The flooring or roofing 83 may then be nailed to the joist and the overhang or eaves. 81 benailedto the nailable members 94 in the outlookers` 5.4..vv

.It will now be seen that the connector, mem.- bers or brackets 52 like the connector .members orfbrackets i3 of the previously described building provide forready assembly of the, building elements into a. complete. building framework in a manner decreasing time, and costas-oterection. For example,.the provision of these. brackets.` t3 makes it possible. in building erection to. simply setthe joists, spacer members. and the outlooker supported nailable members in place, in the. retainers or seats of the brackets which interconneet the parts and connect them tothe columns.

.I claim: i

l. In building construction the. combination comprising, aV support. having aA downwardly turned fiange. terminating in a lowerv free edge, a joist extending away from theY support, a connector member supported on thesupportpresent.- ing a seat supporting anend portion of the..joist,

yand attachment means formed out of: a lportion 'joist, a kchannel outlookerl abovefthe seat/oi"r the channel retainer extending from and in alignment with the channel retainer, said outlooker including side walls integrally joined to the side walls of the channel retainer and a bottom web, and channel retainer members carried by and extending from opposite sides of the channel outlocker to receive end portions of joist spacer members. each channel retainer member including spaced sidewalls and a bottom web, the bottom webs of the outlooker and the channel retainer members being coplanar and above the bottom web of the channel retainer.

3. A connector member for use in connecting building members together comprising, a channel retainer having side walls and a bottom web providing a seat to receive an end portion of a jois't, a channel outlooker above the seat of the channel retainer extending from and in align-r extending from opposite sides of the channel outlooker to receive end portions of joist spacer members, each channel retainer member including spaced sidewalls and a bottom web,V the bottom webs of the outlooker and the channel retainer members being coplanar` and abovev the bottom web of the channel retainer, 4and the upper edges of all of said side walls being coplanar.

4. In a building structure, the 'combination comprising, a support, a connector member positioned on the support and connected to the support, the connector member including a channel retainer extending inwardly of the support and having a bottom web forming a joist seat and side walls extending upwardly from the bottom web, a channel outlooker above the bottom web of the -channel retainer extending outwardly of the support and in alignment with the channel retainer. said channel outlooker including a bottom web and side Walls integrally joined to the side walls oi' the channel retainer, and channel retainer members carried by and extending from opposite sides of the channel outlooker, each channel retainer member including spaced side walls and a bottom web, the bottom webs of the channel outvlooker and the channel retainer members being coplanar and above the bottom web of the channel retainer, a joist having an end portion seating on the bottom web between the side walls of the channel retainer, laterally extending joist spacer members each having an end portion received by -a respective one of the channel retainer members,

andan outlooker beam in the channel outlooker on the bottom web of the channel outlooker.

5. In a building structure, the combination comprising, a support, a connector member positioned on the support and connected to the support, the connector member including a channel retainer extending inwardly of the support and having a bottom web forming a joist seat and side walls extending upwardly from the bottom web, a channel outlooker above the bottom web of the channel retainer extending outwardly of the support and in alignment with the channel retainer, said channel outlooker including a bottom web and side walls integrally'joined to the side walls of the channel retainer, and channel retainer members carried by and extending from .opposite sides of the channel outlooker, each channel retainer member including spaced side walls and a bottom web, the bottom webs of the channel outlooker and the channel retainer members being coplanar and above the bottom web of the channel retainer, a joist having an end portion seating on the bottom web between the side wallsof the channel retainer, laterally extending joist spacer members each having an end portion received by a respective one of the channel retainer members, andan outlooker beam in the channel outlooker on the bottom web of the channel outlooker, the top of the joist and the top of the outlooker beam being coplanar.

6. In a building structure, the combination comprising, a support, a connector member positioned on the support and connected to the support, the connector member including a channel retainer extending inwardly of the support and having a bottom web forming a joist seat and side walls extending upwardly from the bottom web,

a channel outlooker above the bottom web of the channel retainer extending outwardly of the support and in alignment with the channel retainer. said channel outlooker including a bottom web and side walls integrally joined to the side walls of the channel retainer, and channel retainer members carried by and extending from opposite sides of the channel outlooker, each channel retainer member including spaced side walls and a bottom web, the bottom webs of the channel outlooker and the channel retainer members being coplanar and above the bottom web of the channel retainer, a joist having an end portion seating on the bottom web between the side walls of the channel retainer, laterally extending joist spacer members each having an end portion received by a respective one of the channel retainer members, and an outlooker beam in the channel outlooker on the bottom web of the channel outlooker, all of said side walls having upper coplanar edges.

THADDEUS B. HURD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 'Date f 710,538 Summerer et al Oct. 7, 1902 796,433 Kahn Aug, 8, 1905 1,639,484 Boardman Aug. 16, 1927 2,186,310 Van Hoefen Jan. 9. 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country v Date 372,840 France 1907 558,909 Great Britain Jan. 26, 1944 

